Staunton Spectator

The multiplicity and contrariety of rumors in reference to the operations of Gen'l Thomas J. Jackson's forces are so great that we find it impossible to give anything like a satisfactory account of them. From the Winchester Republican we learn that when our forces were within a few miles of Bath, in Morgan county, on their onward march, a skirmish ensued between our advance guard and the enemy's picket, in which we lost one killed and five or six wounded. The loss of the enemy in killed and wounded could not be definitely ascertained. Eight prisoners were, however, captured. Brig. Gen Meem was then sent around with his militia to prevent the Yankees, 1,400 strong, from retreating from Bath by a narrow defile in the mountain, the only way of escape left them. Upon the closing in of our lines; confident that the enemy was in our grasp, it was found that the Yankee rascals were too smart for the militia, and had made good their escape. Seven additional prisoners were, however, secured, with some five hundred Overcoats and from 800 to 1,000 Rifles. The rail road bridge at Capon River, just completed by the enemy, was also destroyed, with the loss of several killed and wounded. The loss to the enemy other than the burning of the bridge we could not learn. (Our entire loss so far is five killed and fifteen wounded). This we believe to be the sum total of the damage done to the enemy.

On Thursday week it appears that the Yankees, some three thousand strong, left Romney and surprised the militia, 600 in number, under Col. Monroe, at Hanging Rock, one mile from Col. Blue's, and 14 from Romney, the enemy capturing two of our guns, and securing what has been regarded heretofore as an impregnable position. We lost none in killed, wounded or prisoners. After taking possession of this position, the enemy next visited the farm of Colonel Blue, killing all of his stock and burning his barn and all of his out buildings. Some report his dwelling as burnt also, but this lacks confirmation. On their return toward Romney, old Mr. Reed, a worthy and loyal citizen, was shot, fortunately not mortally, and then locked in his house, which was fired and burned to the ground over his head. Some two thousand of these desperadoes still hold possession of Hanging Rock, whilst Romney is occupied by about 6,000. Whether they will be suffered to winter there time will tell.

From the Rockingham Register we learn that two of the sons of Rockingham were killed--John Berry (son of John K. Berry near Edom) and Jacob Nisewander, son of Samuel Nisewander near Antioch. They were members of Capt. Arch. Taylor's company of militia.

From a correspondent of the Lynchburg Republican, we learn that on the evening of the 4th inst., Colonel Rusk, of Arkansas, proceeded up the road to the west of Bath, to burn the Capon bridge, in command of a brigade consisting of four regiments and a battery. When near the bridge he saw the camp fires of the enemy, and advanced to attack them. It seems that the enemy were aware of his approach, and had taken position some distance to the rear, so as to ambuscade his command. Before the Col. was aware of the position of the enemy he was fired into. Finding himself thus ambuscaded, Col. Rusk halloed with all his voice as if to forces yet in his rear--"bring up the 16th and 18th Mississippi regiments, the 6th Texas brigade, and hurry up that battery." This command to ideal forces had the proper effect, and immediately the enemy broke and ran like sheep. Rusk, however, from the first attack lost four men killed and eighteen wounded.

The efficient representative of this country in the Senate of Virginia--Bolivar Christian, Esq--offered the following resolution looking to the defence of Western Virginia, which has recently been rendered defenceless by the withdrawl of troops from that section of the State:

Resolved by the General Assembly, that a joint committee of five members of the Senate, and seven of the House of Delegates be appointed to confer with the Confederate authorities, and devise co-operative movements on the part of the State with the Confederate Government for prompt protection to the persons and property of citizens, and the general defence [sic] in Western Virginia against the invasion of the enemy.

Mr. Christian, in explanation of the motives for offering this resolution, said it was, of course, in no spirit of criticism on the conduct of the war by the Confederate authorities, but in view of emergent acts. It is well known that the bogus Government at Wheeling publicly proclaims its intention to extend its jurisdiction over all Trans-Alleghany, at least; and also that authentic information has just reached us that the Lincoln troops have advanced in force and taken possession of the county seat of Pocahontas, hitherto the headquarters of our armies; that they have invaded Greenbrier, Monroe, Mercer and other counties, whence we drew the supplies of beef for our armies; that they are pillaging the property and harassing the faithful citizens of that country. Meanwhile the Confederate forces, doubtless for proper reasons, have been withdrawn, even the forces organized in that same country for its defence constituting nearly all its fighting material, and transferred to the distant fields of Kentucky and South Carolina. It is farther understood that Gov. Letcher has already tendered the services of the militia brigade under Gen. Chapman for home defence, but the General Government has declined accepting it; hence the executive having exhausted his resources, it becomes proper that the Legislature should provide other, or some relief for this distressed portion of our Commonwealth.--The reorganization of the militia being now under consideration, it is peculiarly proper to consider all the circumstances.

This resolution was adopted in both houses of the Legislature. The committee on the part of the Senate is as follows:

Messrs. Christian of Augusta, Neeson, Douglas, Thomas of Fairfax and Win. Frazier of Rockbridge.

The following compose the committee on the part of the House of Delegates:

Messrs. Hunter, H.W. Sheffey, Garrison, Anderson of Botetourt, Wilson, Mason Matthews of Greenbrier, and Crockett.